The Innocent Man by John Grisham is a very disturbing non-fiction book about our judicial system, a heinous crime and a wasted life. It showed how several innocent men were convicted of murder and that in reality, one is really guilty until proven innocent rather than the other way around. It is a very sad documentary about a talented high school athlete who really ruined his life with drinking, drugs and got framed for murder, and developed mental and physical illness.
It's unbelievable how these innocent men spent 12 years in prison while the appeals courts kept upholding the verdict in spite of all the bungling and lack of evidence in the first trial. The main thing I learned from it is if you ever get brought in for questioning by the police, don't answer any questions without an attorney present, even if you are innocent and have nothing to hide! The fact that this really happened makes horrific.
I recommend this to anyone interested in legal thrillers, the justice system, or prison life.
(Karen's review 3/09)
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Our Favorite Authors And Why (Book Blog Hop)
Torey Hayden: She is a teacher of special needs kids who has held a wide variety of positions and writes about her experiences. She has written a Ton of books that both Gerard and I have read a long time ago. Some of them are quite funny but also very sad when you realize these are real kids she is writing about (for the most part). Beautiful Child, One Child, Twilight Children, Murphy's Boy and Someone Else's Kids are our favorites.
Jodi Picoult: Gerard was first to find her books. The first one we read was "The Pact" about teen love/ suicide. She writes contemporary fiction about some hot topics and usually from different characters view points, but not always. Gerard's favorite of hers is "Nineteen Minutes" about a school shooting and bullying. I think my favorite one of hers is "Perfect Match" about a prosecuting attorney taking matters into her own hands when she finds out someone molester her little boy.
Nicholas Sparks: We both like his books because although they are somewhat predictable, he always has good stories. The first book of his I ever read was "A Walk To Remember" but I've read many more since. He writes about romance and keeps his books clean, not smutty. He's had several made into movies that I'm aware of: Dear John, The Last Song, The Notebook.
Jeanette Oke: For Christian historical fiction about the old west we both like Jeanette Oke. Her books are wholesome with a strong Christian message. My favorite of hers is Return To Harmony. Great author for young girls.
John Grisham: He usually writes legal thrillers that keep our interest and attention. I guess they appeal to me because I work for a law firm and always relate with the lawyers in the books. He has a way of making us think about issues and his characters are usually well developed. The first book I read by him was The Street Lawyer which dealt with the homeless. I loved it and read many of his since.
We both read many different authors, but both enjoy all these. Oh, and since we read The Hunger Games and both agreed it is an awesome book, Suzanne Collins may become one of our favorite authors too. We both plan on reading more of her books.
"The Hope Chest" by Wanda E. Brunstetter
I enjoyed The Hope Chest by Wanda E. Brunstetter about an Amish family whose eldest daughter left the faith to marry an Amish man who chose to leave the Amish community because he liked the modern things. An Amish man wanted to court her but she kept putting him off and encouraged him to court her younger sister instead who she felt was a better match for him. Her younger sister, Rachel, actually did hope to marry him some day.
Of the three books in the "Brides of Lancaster" series, I liked this one best. It wasn't as depressing as the others I liked the main characters better in this one too. It's a light, quick read.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Of the three books in the "Brides of Lancaster" series, I liked this one best. It wasn't as depressing as the others I liked the main characters better in this one too. It's a light, quick read.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
I loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I finished it in just two days it was so hard to put down. Even when I wasn’t reading it, I still was thinking about it. This is the first book in the series and I am hooked! It takes place in a fictional country called Panem that the Capitol controls which is divided into districts based on industry. Just to make sure everyone realizes the Capitol is in control, they run annual Hunger Games where they force two teens from each district to enter a competition to fight to the death in a place that the game makers pick on live TV.
Katniss is the main character, a 16-yr-old girl who is a good hunter and who volunteers to take your younger sister’s place. The boy from her district that is also chosen has a long-time crush on her but she does not realize it until he mentions it in his interview. Katniss struggles with not only surviving the game, but also with friendships and her feelings for Peeta, her admirer and her friend Gale, the boy she hunted with before having to leave for the hunger games.
There is humor in the book as well because Peeta and Katniss both have a rebellious attitude toward the Capitol and try not to let the game change them. I especially liked when they went through their training for the show and Katniss outscored everyone by impressing the gamemakers with her talent and spunk.
This book is awesome! This is a must read if you like psychological thrillers and adventure. This is one of my all-time favorite books and I look forward to reading the rest of series! If you like the TV show, Survivor, you will love The Hunger Games since there are some similarities.
(Karen's review)
Are you kidding me? one of the best books I ever read was Pack of Two but this book is it's equal! What an awesome book! The Hunger Games is about a young teen girl who takes the place of her younger sister in the fight to the death annual TV show. I could not put this book down and I hear the second book in this series, Catching Fire is even better! Wow! I can't wait to read it too! (100 stars)
(Gerard's review)
Reviews by Other Blogers:
For What It's Worth: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire
Bloggin' 'bout Books: The Hunger Games Will Eat You Up and Spit You Out Only After Taking You On An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Thrill Ride
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Katniss is the main character, a 16-yr-old girl who is a good hunter and who volunteers to take your younger sister’s place. The boy from her district that is also chosen has a long-time crush on her but she does not realize it until he mentions it in his interview. Katniss struggles with not only surviving the game, but also with friendships and her feelings for Peeta, her admirer and her friend Gale, the boy she hunted with before having to leave for the hunger games.
There is humor in the book as well because Peeta and Katniss both have a rebellious attitude toward the Capitol and try not to let the game change them. I especially liked when they went through their training for the show and Katniss outscored everyone by impressing the gamemakers with her talent and spunk.
This book is awesome! This is a must read if you like psychological thrillers and adventure. This is one of my all-time favorite books and I look forward to reading the rest of series! If you like the TV show, Survivor, you will love The Hunger Games since there are some similarities.
(Karen's review)
Are you kidding me? one of the best books I ever read was Pack of Two but this book is it's equal! What an awesome book! The Hunger Games is about a young teen girl who takes the place of her younger sister in the fight to the death annual TV show. I could not put this book down and I hear the second book in this series, Catching Fire is even better! Wow! I can't wait to read it too! (100 stars)
(Gerard's review)
Reviews by Other Blogers:
For What It's Worth: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire
Bloggin' 'bout Books: The Hunger Games Will Eat You Up and Spit You Out Only After Taking You On An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Thrill Ride
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
"Looking For A Miracle" by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Looking For A Miracle by Wanda E. Brunstetter is about Rebekah, an Amish young woman who had an accident as a girl and was confined to a wheelchair. It is a slow moving story about how Rebekah struggles with trusting God for her future and is somewhat bitter because of her handicap. I liked how she found a way to become more self-supporting and finally found romance and love. It gives some insight into the Amish community which I found to be interesting and includes a recipe for home-made root beer in the back. I recommend this for anyone who likes to read about the Amish and enjoys a light, predictable read. This is the 2nd book of the "Brides of Lancaster" series.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
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